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Patti Roth

Patti Roth, the editor of Fort Lauderdale on the Cheap, scouts out state and national deals, discounts and coupons for our readers, finding the real deals and presenting them in an easy-to-read format. A veteran newspaper and magazine writer and a longtime South Florida resident, she has written for The Miami Herald, The Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida Travel and Life, E Environmental Magazine, Dog Fancy, Cat Fancy, US Architecture and Earth911.com. Send your cheap tips to her at info@fortlauderdaleonthecheap.com.

For an indoor event that features a variety of local entertainment, Lauderhill is offering a talent show.  The show features students in grades 6 – 12 from Broward.  The talent show in 2025 is 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. Saturday, July 12 and entry is free.  The venue is Lauderhill Performing Arts, 3800 Northwest 11th …

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If you and your pals like to ponder such intriguing facts as the number of toes on a sloth while sipping beer or nibbling on appetizers, several restaurants and bars in Broward offer trivia night events. Play alone or  round up friends and form a team. Most trivia night events are free to play while patronizing the …

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The Hollywood Bandshell is a delightful venue for free live entertainment oceanside. Salty breezes. Waves rolling ashore. Favorite local bands, and fans, rocking out. Delightful. The bandshell is on a lovely pedestrian promenade. The Hollywood Beach Broadwalk  runs more than two miles along the beach, and it lined with restaurants, shops and motels. Entertainment is …

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For folks who sign up for the free Family rewards program at Ikea, participating restaurants in the home goods stores offers deals. Some deals require the Family rewards ID, others do not.  Ikea restaurant deals include: Mondays – Fridays while the promotion is offered with purchase of an adult entry, receive a free kid’s entree …

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The waterpark at T.Y. Park in Hollywood, Castaway Island, offers opportunities for discounts and occasional extra events. Water playground and pool at T.Y. Park The waterpark at T.Y. Park includes a swim lagoon pool, wading pool and a water playground with interactive features and water slides.  In 2025, it’s open March 25 – March 31 …

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  Deerfield Island is a natural area on the Intracoastal Waterway in north Broward that’s accessible by boat. Free water shuttle excursions to Deerfield Island Natural Area are weather permitting, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.  The free boat shuttle service usually runs from a dock at Sullivan Park, 1701 Riverview Road, Deerfield Beach, at 10 a.m., …

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Welleby Park in Sunrise is sporting fun features. For kids, amenities include a nature-theme splash pad for wet fun, a playground with a rubberized safety surface, and a Safety Town play area.  For a stroll, a boardwalk runs along a lake. Dogs are welcome to nose around Pawgrass Dog Park. Welleby Park, 954-747-4600, is at …

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Woofing Waters Dog Park within Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach offers water-spritzing features for dogs. It’s a fun venue for water-loving pets and people who adore their dogs. Entry fees are $5 per day for up to 3 dogs in a family. On weekends and holidays, fees for entry to Quiet Waters Park apply. …

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While lots of parks in South Florida are relatively flat, Vista View Park in Davie is distinctive for its relatively tall terrain, with parts about 65 feet above sea level. Entry to Vista View  is free on weekdays. On weekends and holidays, the fee is $3 per vehicle for up to 8 people or $20 …

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Florida is offering shoppers savings on eligible purchases of apparel, school supplies, and electronic devices including laptops, desktops and tablets. Florida Back To School sales tax holidays are events in which state sales tax is withheld on qualifying products. The savings are for all shoppers of any age even if they are not in school.  …

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Parades. Picnics. Water parks.  Plenty of events and things to do on Fourth of July don’t involve fireworks.  Plenty are free.   With a wide variety of things to do, it’s easy to make the holiday ideal for you.  Things to do Fourth of July without fireworks  Broward Parks Broward Regional Parks are waiving the usual …

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Living on the CheapSouth Florida on the Cheap is a member of Living on the Cheap, a network of websites published by frugalistas, journalists and consumer advocates. Find practical advice on saving money on groceries, travel and shopping, plus tips from our experts on how to live the good life for less at Living on the Cheap.

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